Wauwatosa council directs staff to study joint fire department with West Allis, authorizes grant application

The Wauwatosa Common Council voted to move forward with preliminary work on a potential joint fire department with neighboring West Allis, approving a resolution directing the city administrator to prepare a 30-to-90-day executive summary and a parallel resolution authorizing staff to apply for a state innovation grant if West Allis and Wauwatosa approve an intergovernmental transfer of fire protection services.

The effort to study consolidation drew sharp debate at Monday’s meeting, with Alder Meindl opposing the step and several members urging further study. “Since 2021, Wauwatosa has provided over 10,000 mutual aid calls to the Milwaukee Fire Department while receiving only 3,674 in return,” Meindl said, arguing the proposal would not address what he described as an imbalance and that the process was moving too quickly. Meindl later cast the lone no vote on the item; the council recorded a 13-1 outcome.

Mayor McBride and other supporters framed the resolution as a step to secure long-term funding and service stability. “I have heard almost nothing in terms of pushback from residents. Almost nothing,” the mayor said, and emphasized the city’s budget pressures and the need to avoid cuts to core services. Supporters said the joint department could make both cities eligible for innovation grants—citing an $8 million-per-year figure for up to five years mentioned during the meeting—as a potential funding stream to stabilize service levels.

Council members pressed for conditions and safeguards if talks continue. Alder Phillips said he will look for a “fair cost-sharing formula,” union participation, service guarantees and an exit clause before supporting any final deal. Others said the process should produce explicit dispatch plans, governance structure, and a financial risk assessment before a final vote.

The two resolutions approved do not create a joint department. They instead authorize staff work: one requires a written executive summary laying out options, governance and financial implications within 30 to 90 days; the other permits staff to seek an innovation grant once both cities approve a transfer agreement. Council members noted the consultant’s study has drawn scrutiny; questions were raised about consultant selection and whether prior draft reports circulated among city leadership.

The council’s vote was recorded by roll call. The motion to direct the administrator and the motion authorizing grant application were moved as part of a set of Government Affairs resolutions and were taken separately for discussion; both measures received majority support and advanced the study and grant-seeking steps.

The next formal step will be staff’s return with the requested executive summary and recommendations, at which point the council can consider any proposed agreements with specific terms.